I Wanna Be Your Shoebox

Christina Garcia seems to have created the ultimate in non-didactic multicultural literature in the central character of her novel I Wanna Be Your Shoebox. Yumi Ruiz-Hirsch is part Cuban, part Japanese, and part Jewish. But she is also part musician, part surfer, and part historian. Yumi's eighth grade year seems to be more than a little filled up. Within the span of a few months, she has found out that her school will be cutting her beloved orchestra from its budget, her mother is remarrying, and her grandfather is dying. As Yumi listens to her grandfather Saul tell his life story, she also begins to learn to fight for the things she wants as she works with her classmates, father, and soon-to-be step-father to organize a punk rock orchestra fundraiser. She also quickly realizes that life doesn't always turn out the way you planned - sometimes you just have to make do the best you can and join in the dance.

Episodes from Yumi's year are beautifully described by the author, who was a National Book Award finalist in 1992 for her adult novel Dreaming in Cuban. Garcia's experience as an adult author shine though clearly in her first mid-grade novel, giving Yumi's narration a literary tone that will appeal to most, but could potentially turn away some less-experienced, less-patient readers. Overall, however, this novel's characters are beautifully drawn and Yumi's adventures show a delicious combination of youthful vigor and wise understanding. Saul's own narration of his life story, presented at the end of each chapter, is given a very distinct voice which makes his character stand out and adds a dynamic all its own as the reader learns along with Yumi about how his experiences have shaped the man he became.

Overall Grade: A-

The London Eye Mystery

The London Eye Mystery is a thrilling tale of a boy named Salim who gets on the famous London "Ferris Wheel," but never exits the ride. Now it is up to Salim's cousins Ted and Kat to figure out what happened to him. Ted and Kat come up with a list of theories as to what may have happened to their cousin, but nothing seems quite right. Did he simply stay on for a second trip around the Eye? Is it possible he simply got lost in the crowd? Did he spontaneously combust? The two of them slowly use their intuition to follow the clues - not all of which are obvious on the first go - and figure out what happened to Salim.

Ted's characterization is especially well done. He suffers from an unnamed syndrome that affects the way he socializes and the way he thinks about things, which clever readers may conclude to be a form of autism known as Asberger's Syndrome. Ted's syndrome provides him with a very unique way of looking at the world around him and offers a fairly unique, yet truthful perspective on his own and his family's reactions to Salim's disappearance. Through a combination of Ted's unique mindset and beautifully metaphoric writing, author Siobhan Dowd has created a gripping tale about love, loss, and family that will appeal to upper-elementary and teen readers.

Overall Grade: A

Goodreads.com

I've recently been given a whirlwind tour of goodreads.com, and I'm in love. It's a great place to keep track of the books that you've read (or the books you want to read...). You can then rate each book on a five-star scale, or even write your own review of the book. Users can also compare the books that they have read and ranked with their friends to see how similar their tastes are, or how much their opinions of the books match up.

This is a great website for avid readers! You not only have a place to share your opinions on books that you've read, but also a means of looking at other books that you may enjoy. For example, if you have a friend on Goodreads whose taste you trust, you can look to see what they've read to give you ideas for what to look for next. And if you're like me and read lots of books, having a list of the one's you've already tried has the great potential to be helpful when you just can't remember what that book's title was.

I try to post a book review here about once a week or so, but I really read a lot more books than that on average. If anyone else is curious to see what else I've been reading lately, feel free to take a look at my profile on Goodreads and browse my "bookshelves." Maybe you'll see something else there that you'll enjoy!

Becca at Sea

The episodic tale Becca at Sea describes one girl's series of adventures at her grandmother's house throughout the year. Becca's grandmother lives on an island off of the Canadian coast, lending to the story a very cozy and unique environment filled with midnight swims, oysters, and seals. In every adventure, Becca is able to come out on top and save the day. By the book's end, Becca has come to realize just how capable of a person she really is and just how much she has grown in the past year.

While the book is beautifully written, the episodic nature may be problematic for very young readers. Some elements, such as the impending arrival of Becca's new baby sibling and Becca's aunt's budding yet troubled romance with the local plumber, weave their way in and out of each story, but as a general rule a new adventure begins with each chapter with much time sometimes passing between events. Whether or not readers view this as a pro or con is a matter of personal preference. What all readers will certainly agree on is that author Deirdre Baker has created a beautifully inviting setting for Becca's story, one that will make this book stand out from other coming-of-age or new-sibling stories for this age group.

Overall Grade: A-

Twilight Movie

I finally made it to see Twilight yesterday! I actually really enjoyed it. Yes, it was a cheesy low-budget teen film, but it was highly entertaining and stuck very nicely to the book.

Especially Nice Things:
-Robert Pattnison (Edward) was much more attractive and far less over-drawn than I expected from what I saw of the movie posters.
-Billy Burke (Charlie) was excellent. And uber-feminists will be happy that they didn't have Bella slaving over a hot stove for him. :P

Especially Obnoxious Things:
-Kristen Stewert (Bella) really needs to see a respiratory therapist. She kept breathing deeply and gasping in really random places. It was probably supposed to help build tension, but it really just made me laugh.
-Every last one of the boy vampires, save Emmett, needed a haircut. The whole windblown thing was just a little crazy. Jasper's was especially bad.
-I actually did not like the scene where Bella revealed that she knew that Edward was a vampire. Too much gasping (seriously, give the girl an inhaler) and Edward was much too crabby. It was too bad considering that scene in the meadow (which they worked into this scene) was so good in the book.

My Dad's a Birdman

In My Dad's a Birdman, author David Almond's first book for young readers, we meet a young girl named Lizzie whose very eccentric father is building wings so that he can fly like a bird. Everyone, including Lizzie's dumpling-obsessed Aunt Doreen, is sure that Lizzie's father is off his rocker is will only get himself and Lizzie into trouble or even seriously hurt. Lizzie, however, ultimately joins her father on his quest to enter the Great Human Bird Competition and discover a way to make his dreams really take flight.

The wacky characterizations are very reminiscent of Roald Dahl's writing, while the bright illustrations by Polly Dunbar remind us of Quentin Blake. Readers will realize that while Aunt Doreen may be logically correct - that flying is best left to the birds - in the end it is really more important that Lizzie and her dad try their best. After all:

"It doesn't matter if we fly of if we fall. We've got each other. We're doing it together. That's all that matters."

Overall Grade: B

For the Birds!

Beloved author and illustrator David Graham has produced yet another beautiful picture book. How to Heal a Broken Wing tells the story of a pigeon that falls out of the sky and lands in the middle of a busy city. No one seems to notice this poor bird, except for a little boy named Will. With the help of his mother he brings the bird home. Will and his parents nurse the bird back to health and mend its broken wing until finally the pigeon is able to fly away and rejoin the other birds in the wild.

The illustrations are done in a very similar style to David Graham's other books (think "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate), but the lighting and the sparsity of text makes the images incredibly powerful. This is a soothing story and the bird's successful recovery is incredibly uplifting. Perfect for those seeking stories about healing broken bones, taking care of wildlife, or simply a story with a happy ending.

Overall Grade: A+

This fabulous book has reminded me of other great books about birds:

The True Story of Sellina by Italian-American author Matteo Pericoli contains many similarities to David Graham's book as both describe a bird alone in the city who needs help. Instead of having a broken wing, however, little Stellina has abandoned her nest as a baby and is unable to care for herself until Pericoli's wife Holly finds her and takes her in. Pericoli describes how Holly would take care of the little bird and how Stellina would become a part of their lives. Touching and sweet, the text is written in what seems to be lines of free verse poetry

Overall Grade: A+

How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird is an adaptation of a poem by French author Jacques Prevert. Translated and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Mordicai Gerstein, it is a beautifully poetic story that is not so much about healing or even birds, but about the power of art. The story provides instructions on capturing a bird to paint, beginning with directions to sketch an inviting birdcage to attract the bird. The fantasy of this procedure is whimsical and filled with child-like creativity as it celebrates the creative process and creative solutions to difficult problems. The illustrations are beautifully rendered and seem to call to mind the very portrait that the poem calls its readers to paint.

Overall Grade: A+

Princess Accademy

This Newbery Honor-winning novel by Shannon Hale certainly lives up to expectations. When it is prophisied that the prince's future bride will come from the remote Mount Eskel, a princess academy is set up to teach all of the eligible girls skills such as reading, diplomacy, and poise. Young Miri, who has never been allowed to work with the rest of her village in the quarries, quickly establishes herself as a strong candidate for the role of princess with her speedy mastery of her lessons. Miri seems to have finally found a way in which she can be useful to the village, but does she really want to be a princess? Tensions between the girls are sometimes strained as they are constantly reminded of the competition between them, but will they be able to band together when the academy is put in danger?

As one of the girls points out in the final chapter, "Maybe Mount Eskel didn't need a princess, just an academy." While some girls truly dream of being able to marry the prince, Miri and each of the other girls in turn begins to discover the value of family, friendship, community, and education as they become aware of the world beyond their mountain. Quality of life on Mount Eskel is vastly improved as the girls are able to use their lessons to help their sheltered village thrive. The princess academy is truly life-altering for each of the 20 girls who attend...though not necessarily for its intended purpose. Pragmatic and fanciful readers alike will appreciate the way in which Hale blends the two takes on the academy to create a compelling and engrossing tale.

Overall Grade: A+

May Bird and the Ever After

After getting a request for this book from a kid who has proven to have excellent taste (she's a regular at the library, and we've done a lot of book talking!), I finally picked up May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson. I was kind of impressed with the book. May is a friendless 10-year-old girl who has a vivid imagination...and the threat of being sent to boarding school looming over her shoulder. One day while walking in the woods near her home, she falls into a lake and is sucked into the "Ever After," home of ghosts, specters, and ghouls. May finds herself instantly hunted by Bo Clevil, who has outlawed the living from remaining in the Ever After. Teamed up with Pumpkin (the ghost who has haunted May's house for years) and trailed by May's pet Somber Kitty, the two set out to find the Book of the Dead, which will hopefully tell May how she can return home.

This engaging story is perhaps a little slow to set up, but May's adventures in Ever After are exciting and fraught with danger. The characters that May meets up with along the way are diverse and well-drawn, each with their own distinct and endearing personalities. There are lots of interesting dead spirits to be found here, but is not a scary book. It would, however, be a good tone-setting for those looking to get into the Halloween spirit but who don't necessarily want to have their pants scared off.

Overall Grade: A-/B+

Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend

High school senior and Harvest Queen Belle Philbrick's world is turned upside down when her boyfriend of over two years dumps her - after coming out of the closet. Now Belle has a huge range of emotions to deal with as she tries to come to terms with the news. Even worse is watching the rest of her small town community come to terms with this news - and some people certainly react badly. Belle is left to try to answer all of the questions that Dylan has left her with. Did she ever really understand Dylan? How has her own identity changed as a result? And what about Tom, a friend from Belle's childhood who suddenly seems to be looking at her in a new light?

Despite a relatively snarky title, this book is certainly deep and thought-provoking. Author Carrie Jones does a great job of getting inside Belle's head and showing her complicated and sometimes understandably irrational emotions. This books is also a great way of looking at the coming-out story as we really see how Dylan's preferences affect his friends and his community.

Overall grade: A-

The sequel to this book, Love (And Other Uses for Duct Tape), brings us back to Belle, Tom, and their tiny Maine hometown. The good news is that this book presents an interesting look at all forms of love (including sex) and their sometimes unplanned consequences, including teen pregnancy. The themes are truly good and using Belle again as a reactionary character to difficult circumstances is interesting and effective for exploring these themes. Unfortunately, the writing just isn't as good. It almost seems like Jones is trying a little too hard to recapture the tone she nailed so perfectly in Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend, and in the process ends up repeating herself over and over again in terrible teenage angst. The timing in this story is also off, and it seems like things move along far to quickly for the four days or so in which the book is set. Still worth checking out, but be warned about the decline in quality.

Overall grade: B/B-

Sorry about the terrible influx of teen books recently! It's simply coincidence that I've picked up so many quick teen reads lately. I've been slowly working through a few longer children's books, and hope to post about another one very soon.

A Library Card for Every Child

Today I encountered a little boy (about nine years old) who did not have a library card. This boy was so excited about being at the library and looking at books and using the computers. However, he was disappointed to learn that without a library card, he would not be able to take books home with him or use the Internet computers, which require a library card to log in. He was at the library without his parents, so he was absolutely unable to get a card that day. I have seen this boy at a library a few times in the past, and have never seen a parent with him, so I am inclined to doubt that we will see Mom or Dad with him anytime soon without some major wheedling on his part.

I like to think that the parents of a child so young would know where their son is spending his time, even if he is on his own. So why is it that this boy does not have a library card? Why would you come to the library if you didn't have full access to everything the library has to offer?

Getting a library card is very easy in most places. Most libraries simply require that you fill out a brief application and show a form of identification or proof of address. This is simply so that library employees can keep track of exactly where materials are after they are checked out. All in all, obtaining a library card should take no more than about fifteen minutes of your time.

Once you have a library card, you have the ability to take home books, movies, music, and at some libraries games. Library cards are often also required for using library computers. The library is certainly open to the public and people are more than welcome to simply read at the library without taking items home. However, having the option to take materials home means that your child's opportunities to read become unlimited. Obtaining a library card also can give children a great sense of responsibility, because once they check something out on their card, they are responsible for taking care of the item and returning it on time. It also gives children a certain amount of ownership over the items they have selected, making the materials seem more enjoyable since they checked them out.

And just think - the library offers all of these opportunities for free, in exchange for your home address, phone number, a form of ID, and the promise that items will be returned in a timely manner. That's a pretty great deal no matter where you are.

As far as I am concerned, there is simply no good reason not to have a library card. It is my hope that other parents will agree that having his card is a key to learning about the world around you as well as a host of entertainment. Parents, if you have not done so already, please make sure that your child has his or her own card so that he or she can take full advantage of the resources available at your library.

The Chicken Dance

In his first novel, Jacques Couvillon presents teens with a heartfelt story about love, family and, of course, chickens. Eleven-year-old Don is instantly transformed from "the new kid" who nobody notices or cares about to a local celebrity when he becomes the youngest person ever to win his town's chicken judging contest. Finally, Don has friends who want to spend time with him and a mother who seems interested in what's going on in his life. Everything is turned upside down, however, when Don accidentally finds a birth certificate for a child with his birthday but with a different name. Who is this Stanley? And what does he have to do with Dawn, the dancing sister who has been dead for years and who no one can seem to get over? Set in Louisiana in 1980, this intriguing story of Don's breaking family and his struggle to find his place in it is all at once touching and tragic. Nothing is what it seems in this novel - except for the chickens, who despite their place in the book's title as as a moving symbol play a very minor role.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this book is the way that Couvillon has managed to present some very complicated and dramatic themes in the authentic voice of an 11-year-old. Often one runs the risk of making a character older than his years when writing about some of these themes, but Don's take on things is always believable for a child of his age.

I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys books about families or friendships.

Overall Grade: A

The Boy Who Saved Baseball

John Ritter's book, The Boy Who Saved Baseball, is a moving underdog story about our national pastime. In this story, a small California town is torn in half as developers come in to try to "fix up" the area. They're already made vast improvements on part of the town by fixing up homes, bringing in new businesses, and supplying their youth baseball team with a brand new field and equipment. Many of the townspeople, however, do not want to see this happen to the rest of the area despite the benefits, fearing that they will loose their connection to the surrounding countryside and their small town way of life. It is decided that the fate of Dillontown is going to be decided by a baseball game between the town's two teams. If the Wildcats, a rag-tag team of kids who barely have bleachers on their field can win, then the town will remain as is. If the well-equipped team from down the hill wins, however, then progress is truly the answer and the developers will be allowed to move in. It is up to a strange kid named Cruz de la Cruz and a washed-up former major leaguer to teach the rest of the team to really see the ball and play to win. Will the Dillontown Wildcats come out on top?

This book is a great baseball story that is sure to please sports fans. However, I would encourage those who perhaps aren't quite as baseball savvy to consider this book as well. Everyone can appreciate this underdog story. The poetic language is also sure to please, and the description really transports the reader to the California countryside.

Overall Grade: A-

Nick and Norah - The Movie

I went with some friends to see the film version of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist over the weekend. For the record - they made a LOT of changes from the book, all of which bothered me. The movie isn't exactly great cinema, but it would have been entertaining enough if I hadn't been so caught up on the book.

The movie have a few very gross moments that I won't get into here. And Michael Cena is really not the actor I would have chosen to play Nick no matter how adorable the guys is. Nick and Norah's friends also have much more prominent roles than they do in the book.

Of the five of us who went to see the movie, all but one had read the book. I was the only one really bothered by all of the changes. Like I said, the movie has the potential to be entertaining if you can get over all of the changes.

The movie was rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sexuality, language, and crude behavior - but it was far less vulgar than the book.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

In honor of yesterday's release of of the film staring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, I finally present my review of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, co-written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.

The story is told in alternating voices, with Levithan writing from Nick's point of view, and Cohn writing from Norah's perspective. Nick has recently been dumped by his girlfriend of 6 months. When she appears at the club where Nick's band is performing, he is so desperate to avoid her that he asks the nearest girl - Norah - to pretend to be his girlfriend for five minutes. Filled with her own excess baggage from a past relationship, Norah responds by kissing him, leading to an intense night of falling in and out of love and finding closure with their pasts.

I can definitely see why someone would love this book. It's an edgy exploration of love, rejection, and recovery. And while the book starts a bit strangely as we jump headfirst into the story without much of a reason given for why Nick and Norah seem to be so strongly drawn to each other, it finishes strongly with the promise that our protagonists' hearts can and will heal.

Unfortunately...I honestly didn't much care for the book. Perhaps this is because in the past I've not been a fan of David Levithan's writing. It might also be that I had a hard time identifying with the characters. Wisconsin is very different from NYC, and the characters have a super-hip lifestyle that is almost completely foreign to me. I also found the book to be excessively profane. Normally, swearing in a book is not enough to completely turn me off, but given my other reasons for not liking the book, the profanity seemed way over the top. If you worry about your ears burning, this might not be the book for you.

Overall Grade: B/B+

But don't let my opinions stop you from reading. It truly is not a terrible book, just not my cup of tea. It may be especially worth checking out if you're planning on seeing the movie - from what I've heard, they took a number of liberties with the book to bring Nick and Norah to the screen.

One Voice Please

Many readers may recognize Sam McBratney as the author of beloved picture books, including my own personal favorite Guess How Much I Love You. Now, McBratney has put together a collection of short stories for older readers under the title One Voice, Please. In the books introduction, McBratney explains how he once heard this phrase silence a crowded pub so that one man could share a story with the entire crowd. This is a fitting title, given the nature of the book's collection of tales. Many of these fables will be familiar to readers, including the story of the ion and the mouse, and the Pied Piper of Hamlin. However, most of these stories were unfamiliar to me. This pleasant combination of the familiar and the unfamiliar made the transition from story to story smooth and comforting. Each tale is a sort of fable with a lesson or moral at the end, but the collection is not overly moralistic, preachy, or didactic. The writing is smooth and pleasant, and as indicated by the subtitle, would be perfectly suited to be reading aloud.

The stick-like illustrations found within the text are the work of another well-known picture book author/illustrator, Russel Ayto. The sketches are an edgy yet whimsical accompaniment to this smooth text. This book is truly a good transitional book, with aspects that will be greatly appreciated by readers ranging from preschoolers who are being read to, to grade schoolers looking for a simple, comforting text, to the adults who share this book with their children.

My only criticism is the fact that while this collection contains stories from all over the world, no note is ever made of the stories' origins. Granted, it is somewhat refreshing to not have multiculturalism slammed down our throats in an obvious way, and this lack of information almost makes the stories blend together a bit more seamlessly. The stories come together under the category of "story" rather than under the guise of "world cultures" - which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it may have been nice to at least have a note or appendix at the end of the text with this information so that readers can easily investigate a story or its culture more thoroughly should they desire.

Overall Grade: A

Thank You, Lucky Stars

Friendship is sometimes a fickle thing, and this is certainly true for fifth-grader Ally Miller in the book Thank You, Lucky Stars by Beverly Donofrio. Her longtime best friend Betsy has ditched her at the start of the school year, leaving her sad, alone, and without any hope of finding someone to perform with for the fifth grade talent show. Bizarre new student Tina, however, seems eager to have Ally as her new friend. Ally doesn't really want to be friends with the Princess Leia bun-wearing, loudmouthed girl who doesn't care what people think of her, but the two are nonetheless drawn together. How will Ally balance her yearning to be popular and well-liked with the true friendship that Tina has to offer?

Fans of Stargirl may wish to take note! While this book is geared for a slightly younger audience, Tina's free spirit is very similar to Stargirl's, and funky disco dancing is a fairly adequate substitute for the bunny hop. However, while the side story of Tina's mentally ill mother has the potential to be truly moving and interesting to the reader, it seems more like a plot device than anything else in some places, burried underneath Ally's dominating story. Despite this flaw, Ally's tale is strong and emotional, and her fears are well drawn.

Overall Grade: A-

Midnight Sun

I recently heard that Stephenie Meyer has postponed the publication of Midnight Sun - Twilight from the perspective of Edward - indefinitely due to a leak of one of her drafts of the book onto the Internet.

I have to say, I'm rather disappointed on a number of levels. First, that someone would leak the book in the first place, and second that others would continue to distribute it. This is definitely an infringement on Meyer's rights to the material. Not cool.

But I'm also a bit disappointed in Meyer for her decision to stop writing the book because of it. I truly understand why she is upset, and I can even understand how this could delay her writing, and consequently the publication of the book. However, I think her reaction was slightly over-dramatic. It seems that her relatively public reaction to this, as well as her decision to post the leaked draft on her website as a form of consolation to her fans, actually did more to notify the public of the leak than if she had reacted a bit more subtly. Meyer states that she worried about how to respond without encouraging more people to read the leaked draft, but then goes on to publish the draft herself. I just don't understand the logic. By posting the draft on her webiste, she has erased any doubts that those who found the leaked copy in the Internet may have had about its validity.

Even thought she claims that publication has only been postponed "indefinitely," it really seems to me that she's not going to return to the project. I can only hope to be proven wrong.

Which is a shame. I read the draft (Well, what was I supposed to do; she was practically begging us to read it by posting it! It's like telling someone not to look at something; it just makes you want to peek more.). While it needs quite a bit of polishing (it is a draft, after all), it's very intriguing. Getting this other side of the story reveals so much about Edward's character and his motivations. Nothing much that we didn't already know is found there, but having it laid out for us from his perspective in the form of a story makes it more powerful.

I considered posting a link to Meyer's website to make it easy to find her explanation for these events, but doing so just seemed to perpetuate the problem that I found with her response. If you're interested in Meyer's statement or in the draft, however, check it out. You should be able to find Meyer's website and the Midnight Sun page fairly easily via the search engine of your choice. Just be warned that if Meyer should decide to return to the project in the future, you've spoiled the first 12 chapters by reading it ahead of time.

Kiki Strike

One of my favorite reads for the summer was Kristen Miller's Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City. A tale of action and suspense, this book documents an ordinary 7th grader's introduction to a secret city hidden underneath the streets of New York. She soon teams up with Kiki Strike, a girl of mystery who also seems to have an interest in this Shadow City. The two go on to recruit a team of delinquent Girl Scouts, each with their own special talents. This group, known as the Irregulars, seeks to map out and control the Shadow City - as well as protect it from those who would use it for evil. Filled with advice on how to kick butt, enough intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat, and some beautifully drawn characters who are each strong in their own way, this book is high on my list of all-time favorites. A sequel is also available: Kiki Strike: The Empress's Tomb.

Overall Grade: A+



If you are a fan of the quirky and unusual, you may be interested in a blog kept by Kiki Strike author Kristen Miller. Ananka's Diary is updated almost daily with images and stories of the strange and bizarre, ranging from urban legends to weird inventions and, of course, underground cities. Check it out if you have the chance!

"Grade Level" for Books - Yay or Nay?

It never ceases to amaze me how many parents come into the library looking for a book that's good "for a fifth grader" or "for a second grader" or "for my child's grade level". This is always incredibly frustrating for me because not all kids of the same age or in the same grade will react the same to a given book. And not every kid in a given grade will read at the same level. There is no single "perfect book" that's good for a kid just because they're in a certain grade. It's really much more important that we know what sorts of things your kid is interested in and what kinds of books they have read recently. Do they like sports? Adventure stories? Fantasy? Mystery? It really doesn't do your child any good if they aren't reading something they'll enjoy, even if it is at their reading level, because if they don't enjoy it they won't want to keep reading!

The moral of my story and my message to parents is: Take your kids to the library with you and help them pick out books. Help your child think about what type of book they want to read, and don't stress out about "grade level" material. Reading of any sort is beneficial. While it is certainly a good guideline to know what grade your child is in and how voracious of a reader he or she is, it is certainly not the only factor that is important when looking for the perfect book.

Breaking Dawn

Has anyone else read Breaking Dawn yet? I won't post a specific review of the book here since I don't want to give anything away for those who haven't read it yet since I know some people are very passionate about this sort of thing. But I will list a few general comments/questions that I would love to discuss with anyone who has gotten their hands on the book:

1) Where did all of the Cullen's funky nicknames (Em and Jazz?) come from? Will we start calling Edward "Eddie" next?

2) What did you think of Jacob's narrating in Book 2? Personally, I'm not a fan; I felt like we lost a lot more than we gained when we lost Bella's perspective - we didn't get to see her and Edward work through some really tough stuff.

3) How was the quality of writing? I didn't think it was quite as strong as the previous books in the series. They say that in writing you're supposed to "show" rather than "tell." While I don't think that was a problem in this book, I think that we were "shown" an awful lot of things that didn't necessarily need to be dwelled on and missed a few things that might have made more impact. Anyone want to argue with me?

4) Did anyone else think that Edward's character wasn't really there? He seemed more like a placeholder for the character that needed to be there than like the actual, interesting, perfect character we've all grown to love.

5) Did everything end too neatly, or was the resolution just right? What about everything that happens to Bella? Did she get off to easily? Personally, I'm somewhere between the two...

I have additional things I wouldn't mind discussing if someone wants to bring them up in the comments, but I won't put anything else here for fear of giving anything away. Generally I'm actually happy with the book and many of the events make sense in the context of the rest of the series - I'm just not completely satisfied with the way it was presented.

Overall grade: B/B-

Savvy

Savvy - written by new author Ingrid Law - tells the story of Mibbs Beaumont and her remarkable family. Whenever one of the Beaumonts turns thirteen, they become blessed with some sort of extraordinary gift known as a savvy. Mibbs' oldest brother Rocket creates electricity. Her grandfather moves mountains. And her brother Fish can control the weather - the entire family has recently relocated to the Kansas/Nebraska boarder so that he could not cause another destructive hurricane. As Mibbs' own thirteenth birthday approaches, she dreams of what her own savvy will be. When her father is in a terrible car accident just before the big day, however, Mibbs' world is turned upside down. Convinced that her new savvy will be enough to save him, Mibbs sneaks aboard a buss with a few stowaways in the hopes that it will take her to see her father in the hospital, only to have the bus turn the wrong way! The journey is made even more dangerous as she desperately tries to hide her savvy from her companions - a challenge since even she is not entirely sure how her savvy works.

This book reads quite a bit like Sharron Creech's Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons. Fans of this beloved book should take note! Mibbs' voice resonates throughout the book, and I am eager to hear an audio version of this book.

Overall Grade: A+



Edit 1/26/09: Today it was announced that Savvy won one of this year's Newbery Honor Awards. Congratulations to Ingrid Law on a job well done!

Gail Carson Levine - Ever, and Cover Art

Gail Carson Levine has yet another story to add to her already-charming collection of tales. Ever tells the story of Olus, the god of the winds in Akka; and Kezi, a mortal from nearby Hyte who loves dancing and weaving rugs, and must become a human sacrifice to fulfill her father's oath. Despite Kezi's looming death the two fall in love and must undergo a series of quests so that Kezi can become immortal. Questions about the religion and faith are raised throughout the narrative and no answers are given, leaving the reader to explore these issues for themselves.

Ever is a bit different from Ella Enchanted and Fairest - while the story has the same feel as these other fractured fairy tales, this is a tale from Levine's own imagination. Ever also contains unique narration as Kezi and Olus take turns telling the story.

Overall Grade: A-



I do have a question for other Gail Carson Levine fans: What do you think of her books' cover art? Personally, I think that it is aesthetically beautiful. However, I usually have a very hard time picturing the girls modeling as the books' heroines as the characters they are supposed to present. For example, I think that "Ella" looks about four years younger on the cover of Ella Enchanted than the 16 that she is for most of the book. I also think that "Kezi" looks a bit too solid and sure of herself on Ever's cover - not fluid like a dancer, or with the uncertainty of someone going through a religious crisis. What do you think? Do you like the covers? Why or why not? Do they affect the way you read the books?

Do you judge books by their covers?